 ADVISORIES PUBLISHED ON JUNE 1 - UPDATED 10:30 AM
Wrap-up: There are 16 advisories to report: 3 in BC, 7 in MB, 1 in NL, 2 in NT, 1 in ON, 2 in SK
In the News
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Faucets sold on Amazon recalled due to harmful levels of Lead
.May 15, 2025 NBC News
The recalls come after American faucet brand Moen paid the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO), a certified agency with American National Standards Institute, to test 19 of the top-selling inexpensive foreign-made products.
The IAPMO lab found 17 of the 19 faucets failed to meet national drinking water standards; 11 for lead and 15 for organic compounds including carcinogens and a chemical used to treat lice and scabies.
It is estimated that 35 million faucets from foreign brands were sold in the U.S. in the last five years.
During a U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Intellectual Property hearing May 14, Aaron Bores, Moens executive vice president of product development, asked the government to close intellectual property loopholes that allow the sale of the counterfeit faucets. He explains there are counterfeit products that literally copy every aspect of the Moen product, from markings to trademark names and logos. Holding up a valve at the hearing, Bores said: When searching for this Moen valve on e-commerce, we found one real Moen SKU. That same search resulted in 41 counterfeit SKUs. Consumers have no chance of discerning a real product from a fake, nor do the most experienced plumbers.
The following faucets have been recalled by the Consumer Product Safety Commission due to Lead:
The product recalls highlight how imported plumbing products, that are not certified or approved for use by a certification body accredited by the Standards Council of Canada, can contribute to the contamination of drinking water.
ALBERTA
ISSUED
ALSIKE (Leduc Co-op) BWO issued May 29 due to the presence of Total Coliform bacteria in samples collected on May 20 and 27.
LIFTED
GREENSHIELDS Licensed Water System BWO was in effect from May 25 for a pump malfunction.
BRITISH COLUMBIA
ISSUED
KELOWNA (Falcon Ridge Water System) WQA issued May 30 due to increased turbidity in source water caused by the annual freshet (flood season streamflow from rain and melting snow). The Regional District of Central Okanagan recommends that all customers, especially those with weakened immune systems, children and the elderly, should boil the water or use an alternative source. There are 62 connections on this System.
This Water System does not currently meet all Canadian Standard Drinking Water Guidelines; Occasionally the UV Disinfection is not effective during high source water turbidity events, during this time the system would be non-compliant with regard to having two water treatment processes and the inactivation of Cryptosporidium.
2024 sampling history shows that Trihalomethanes have repeatedly exceeded the maximum allowable concentration (MAC).
KITIMAT District Water System WQA issued May 29 due to elevated turbidity in the Kitimat River resulting in inadequate treatment of the water supply. Northern Health recommends that the immune compromised, elderly, infants, young children, pregnant women and pets should boil the water prior to consumption. Should the turbidity exceed 5 NTU, this WQA will be upgraded to a Boil Water Notice.
Greater Vernon Water WQA issued May 29 due to localized depressurization resulting from a water main break. See map for affected area.
LIFTED
STAR PLACE Water System WQA was in effect April 9 to May 29 for turbidity.
Greater Vernon Water BWN was in effect May 21 to 27 due to power outage.
MANITOBA
ISSUED
RIVER BIRCH Utility BWA issued May 28 following repairs.
RATHWELL Public Water System BWA issued May 28 following a planned service interruption for Water Treatment Plant upgrades.
WATERHEN Public Water System 4 PDWAs were issued May 27 due to system pressure loss affecting the following Water Systems: Meadow Portage, Hills Resort, Jantti and Harvest Lodge.
WINNIPEG BEACH Water System BWA issued May 29 due to a power outage.
LIFTED
COWAN Community Well Supply BWA was in effect May 15 to 28, no reason provided by Health Authority.
GIMLI Public Water System BWA was in effect May 22 to 28 for maintenance.
SOMERSET Public Water System BWA was in effect May 24 to 28 due to a power outage.
ST. MALO Public Water System BWA was in effect May 20 to 22 for a line repair.
NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR
ISSUED
SPRINGDALE (Sullivan's Pond) BWA issued May 28 due to localized maintenance/repairs.
NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
ISSUED
YELLOWKNIFE (DNC) May 26 Tests show elevated levels of lead in drinking water at two Yellowknife schools. Results indicating the elevated levels were first received in January, results from a second set of samples came back in early April, once again showing elevated lead levels; Parents and the Education Minister were only notified on May 26. Rita Mueller, president of the Northwest Territories Teachers' Association (NWTTA), said they didn't receive any formal communication, they heard about the lead levels through the media.
Lead levels in William McDonald Schools drinking water were detected at 0.00903 mg/L, while Range Lake School's levels were 0.025 mg/L. Canada's drinking water guidelines state the maximum acceptable level is 0.005 mg/L. Pipes and water distribution systems, within the affected schools, are suspected to be the source of the contamination.
ONTARIO
ISSUED
FORT ALBANY First Nation BWA issued May 28 due to a power outage.
LIFTED
Twp of AMARANTH (Waldemar Drinking WS) BWA was in effect May 27 to 28 for water storage and pumping upgrades.
ESKER LAKES PROVINCIAL PARK BWA was in effect May 19 to 30.
FORT ALBANY First Nation BWA was in effect October 9 to May 6 for significant infrastructure failure.
SASKATCHEWAN
ISSUED
KINDERSLEY PDWA issued June 2 due to localized depressurization resulting from a water main replacement project.
MAPLE CREEK PDWA issued May 29 due to localized depressurization resulting from a water main break.
LIFTED
SWEETGRASS Public Water System BWA was in effect September 7, 2023 to May 29, 2025 due to potential water quality issues related to ongoing construction of capital upgrades at the Wes Paskemin Memorial Water Treatment Plant.
May 28, 2025 wrap-up
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